nā whai anō ...
1. so that's the reason, so that's why, it's no wonder, it's not surprising, that'll be why, well that explains it - an idiom used when someone has had something explained to them and they finally realise the reason. Similar to 'the penny's dropped'. Also as inā whai anō.
He whaiāipo tā Ngāhuia. Nā whai anō ia i kore ai e haramai i taku taha ki te pikitia. / Ngāhuia has a boyfriend. So that's the reason she won't come to the movies with me.
Ko te āhua nei e rangirua tonu ana ngā whakaaro o te kāhui ariki tae noa ki te pōtitanga o 1931, ā, nā whai anō rā i tarea tonutia ai e Piupiu a Eketone te tautoko (TTR 1996:254). / It would seem that the King's family were quite ambivalent extending into the 1931 election, and it's no wonder Piupiu was able to support Eketone.
Tau: I tae atu a Tama Purotu ki te pō kanikani. Ira: Inā whai anō i hiahia ai a Hinerera ki te haere (HJ 2012:48). / Tau: Tama Purotu arrived at the dance. Ira: So that's why Hinerera wanted to go.
hei aha (atu) [māu]
1. don't worry about it, don't let it bother you, you don't need, why should you care, mind your own business - an idiom indicating a lack of concern or relevance.
Kua pōuri au i ngā kōrero a Ani. Hei aha māu ngā kōrero a tēnā wahine weriweri. / I'm upset about what Ann said. Don't worry about what that horrible woman says.
Hei aha atu māu tā rātou e kī nei. / Don’t pay any attention to what they’re saying.
Hei aha atu mā rātou. / They shouldn't be worried about it.
See also hei aha (noa iho), hei aha atu, hei aha (atu) mā wai?
(ka) mahue te ...
1. why didn't [you], [you] should have, could have, could've, instead of, rather than, rather than doing what is right you do something else - an idiom used to criticise someone's thoughtless action, or something that should have been done but was not.
I mākū au i te ua. E hoa e! Ka mahue te hari tāporena. / I got soaked in the rain. Good grief! Why didn't you take a raincoat.
Porowhiua ana e Kui ōna kaka papai tonu ki te rāpihi. Mahue ana te hoatu ki ngā pōhara o tana whānau (HJ 2012:35). / Nan threw her good dresses into the rubbish. She could have given them to the poor of her extended family.
Ka mahue te mihi atu i konei, waiho rawa kia tae rā anō ki reira. / Rather than doing the greeting here, leave it until we finally arrive there.
nā konā anō/tonu ...
1. so that's the reason, so that's why - an idiom used when someone has had something explained to them and they finally realise the reason. Similar to 'the penny's dropped'.
Mai rā anō, he hoa piripono rāua. Ā kāti, nā konā tonu ia i haere ai ki te whakanui i tana huritau. / They have been close friends for ages. Ah! So that's why she went to her birthday celebrations.
nā reira
1. therefore, that's why, so, consequently, for that reason, hence, thus, accordingly.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 2;)
He nui tonu rātou i mōhio rawa atu ki te kuia nei, nā reira me pēhea e taea ai te roimata te pupuri? (HM 4/2009:1) / Many of them knew this elderly woman well, so how could they hold their tears back?
See also nō reira
Synonyms: i konā, nā konā, nā konei, nō konā, nō reira, heoi, heoti, hoi, hoi anō, oti anō, wheoi
noa
1. (particle) only, solely, just, merely, quite, until, at random, idly, fruitlessly, in vain, as soon as, without restraint, freely, unimpeded, unbridled, casually, easily, without any fuss, suddenly, unexpectedly, spontaneously, instinctively, intuitively, by accident, unintentionally, without restriction, without conditions, randomly, without knowing why, to no avail, for no good reason, very, exceedingly, absolutely, already, right up until - a manner particle following immediately after the word it relates to. Denotes an absence of limitations or conditions. Often occurs in combination with other particles, e.g. noa iho. Where noa follows a verb in the passive it will take a passive ending also, usually -tia. As with other manner particles in Māori, while having a general overall meaning, noa can be translated in a variety of ways, depending on the context.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 120; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 91-92;)
Tekau mita noa pea hei omanga māku. / I probably had only 10 metres to run.
He nui ngā whenua i tukua noatia, i hokona rānei e Kahutia ki ngā tāngata whai me te kāwanatanga (TTR 1994:33). / Kahutia had given and sold considerable areas of land to settlers and the government.
Tēnei hoki tētahi minita Pākehā kei konei, i mate tana mokopuna, kawea ana ki te nehu, ā, i tīmata anō ia i te karakia nehu. Nō te tukunga iho ki te poka oma ana ia, kīhai i mutu tana karakia nehu, ā, tanumia noatia iho e ngā tāngata hāpai (TWMNT 13/3/1877:76). / And then there was a Pākehā minister here whose grandchild died and when she was taken to the burial he began the burial service. When she was being lowered into the grave he fled without finishing his burial service and she was just buried by the pallbearers without ceremony.
See also noa ake, noa atu, noa iho
Synonyms: ā, anake, anahe, nahe, matapōkere, ia, ia rā, heipū, mārie, mārika, mārire, hengahenga, kāhua, (ko) tōna ... (nei), kau, koia, rawa, āhua, anō, tino, kere, āta, hangehange, ake, tata, tika, noa iho, tou, tōkeke, noa ake, tonu
2. (verb) to be free from the extensions of tapu, ordinary, unrestricted, void.
(Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 237-240; Te Kōhure Video Tapes (Ed. 1): 6;)
Puta mai ai te tangata i te urupā, me tāuhi ia i ōna ringaringa me tōna upoko ki te wai kia noa ai ia. / When a person comes out of a cemetery he/she should sprinkle water on his/her hands and head so that she/he is freed from tapu.
See also tapu, rāhui, whakanoa
Synonyms: māori, kai parāoa, kaipaipa, kai paipa
nō reira
1. therefore, thereby, that's why, so, consequently, for that reason, hence, thus, accordingly.
Ko ngā kaimahi i te perehi o te pepa he Pākehā, kāore rawa he mōhiotanga ki te reo Māori. Nō reira i tono atu ai te etita kia mārama te tuhituhi mai (TTT 1/11/1924:138). / The workers of the newspaper's press are Pākehā who have absolutely no knowledge of the Māori language. Consequently the editor requested that your writing should be clear.
Synonyms: i konā, nā konā, nā konei, nā reira, nō konā, heoi, heoti, hoi, hoi anō, oti anō, wheoi
tē ... ai
1. why not? - used following he aha.
See also ai
he aha ai?
1. why? - if there is a verb in the sentence, then the ai follows the verb.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 23;)
He nui ngā tapepetanga e rangona ana, ā, ahakoa pēhea te whakatika atu ka hē tonu mai. He aha ai? He kore tonu nō ngā kaiwhakaako e whakarongo; arā, kei te rongo engari tē whakarongo! (HM 4/1997:3). / Many errors are heard and no matter how often they are corrected they persist. Why? Because the teachers won't listen, that is they hear but do not listen!
He aha i mahue atu ai i a Hohepa te whenua o Īhipa i haere mai ai ia? (KO 15/5/1883:4). / Why did Joseph leave the land of Egypt that he came from?
See also he aha ... e ... ai, he aha ... i ... ai, he aha ... i kore ai e ...?
inā ake anō
1. so that's the reason, so that's why - an idiom used when someone has had something explained to them and they finally realise the reason. Similar to 'the penny's dropped'.
Uru: I tū te kēmu a Ngā Kaponga ki konei inapō. Pare: Inā ake anō i nui ai ngā tāngata i te tāone inanahi nei. / Uru: Ngā Kaponga's game was held here last night. Pare: So that's the reason there were so many people in town yesterday.
ai
1. (particle) always, regularly, usually - shows habitual action. In this usage the verb is followed by ai, but no particle is used before the verb. In this and all the following subentries, if present, a manner particle (i.e. kau, kē, noa, rawa or tonu) will follow immediately after the verb, then a directional particle (i.e. mai, atu, iho, or ake), and then ai. Other particles (i.e. anō, hoki, anake, koa, rānei or pea) will follow ai in the phrase. The other locative particles, nei, nā, rā and ana do not occur when ai is used.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 8;)
Haere ai rāua ki te whare karakia i ia Rātapu. / They go to church every Sunday.
Ahakoa haere ia ki hea, haria ai e ia tana kurī. / No matter where she goes she takes her dog.
Haere ai ngā tāngata i ētahi wā, heoi anō, hoki tonu mai ai rātou (TWK 35:19). / People go away sometimes, but they continually return.
Synonyms: riterite, ka mutu tonu te/tā ...
2. (particle) and then, consequently - when ka preceeds the verb and ai follows it, this denotes an action or state consequent upon some previous action. This usage may also follow another clause beginning with mā.
(Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 68; Te Kōhure Textbook (Ed. 2): 29;)
Whakarongo ki ngā tohutohu, ka tīmata ai i ā koutou mahi. / Listen to the instructions and then start your work.
Kua pāhitia e te Kāwanatanga kia toru ngā tau kātahi ka hoki ai ngā minita ki ō rātou mīhana (TTT 1/11/1921:9). / The Government has passed a law that after three years the ministers then return to their missions.
Mā tāu rourou, mā tāku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi (HJ 2012:190). / With your small flax plaited food basket and my small flax plaited food basket the visitors will be sustained.
See also ka ... ai
3. (particle) when will, when did - used in questions and statements about when something happened or will happen. For the past tense i will preceed the verb and ai will follow, but in the future tense ai will follow the verb, but no particle, ka or e may preceed the verb.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 46, 85;)
Nōnahea ō mōhiti i ngaro ai? / When did your glasses go missing?
Āhea kōrua haere ai ki Te Waipounamu? Ā te 14 o Poutūterangi. / When do you two go to the South Island? On the 14th of March.
Hei te Rāhoroi tāua whakatā ai. / On Saturday you and I will rest up.
Kua hikitia tā tātou hui - hei ātahirā rā anō ka tū ai. / Our meeting has been put off - it will be held the day after tomorrow.
Mō āwhea e tuwhera ai te huarahi hou? (HJ 2012:185). / When will the new road open?
4. (particle) by what means, by what way, via where - in questions and statements about how someone is travelling or via what place.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 47-48;)
Mā hea koe haere ai? Mā runga pahi. / How did you travel? By bus.
Mā hea kōrua hoki atu ai ki Tāmaki-makau-rau - mā Tauranga, mā Rotorua rānei? Mā Tauranga. / What way are you two returning to Auckland - via Tauranga or Rotorua?
See also mā hea
5. (particle) when, where, which, who, whom, that, during which, at which (time), that caused, by which, whereby, why - In clauses in the past tense expressing a resultant action in relation to a particular time, place, reason, way, thing or person already stated in the first part of the sentence. In these subordinate clauses, i will preceed the verb and ai will follow.
(Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 43-44; Te Pihinga Textbook (Ed. 2): 23-24; Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 28-29, 120;)
Ko Te Arawa te waka i ū mai ai ki konei. / Te Arawa was the canoe that landed here.
Ko te 1840 te tau i hainatia ai te Tiriti o Waitangi (HJ 2012:187). / The year that The Treaty of Waitangi was signed was 1840.
He hōhā nōku i kōrero pēnā ai. / It was because I was fed up that I spoke like that.
Koia rā te huarahi i tae mai ai rātou ki te marae. / That was the road by which they reach the marae.
Kāore taku mokopuna i whiwhi i tāna i hiahia ai ia. / My granddaughter didn't get that which she wanted.
See also tā ... i ... ai, he aha ... i ... ai, he aha ... i kore ai e ...?, he aha ai?, te ... ai
6. (particle) when, where, which, who, whom, that, during which, at which (time), that caused, by which, whereby, why - In clauses in the future tense expressing a resultant action in relation to a particular time, place, reason, way, thing or person already stated in the first part of the sentence. In these subordinate clauses, e (or sometimes ka) will preceed the verb and ai will follow. Also used for habitual actions and for subordinate clauses when time is more general and not just the future.
Ko te 7 o Haratua te rā e haere ai māua ki Potukara. / The 7th May is the day that she and I go to Portugal.
Ko te Hōhipera o Waikato te wāhi e pokaina ai ahau. / Waikato Hospital is the place where I will be operated on.
Mā te hīkoikoi i ia rā e ora ai ahau. / By walking each day I will become healthy.
Ko Aroha te wahine e tūtaki ai koe i te whare pukapuka. / Aroha is the woman who you meet at the library.
Me pēwhea ka ora ai tātou? (HJ 2012:189). / How will we survive?
See also he aha ... e ... ai, te ... ai
7. (particle) to (do something) - after verbs following location as an alternative to ki te.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 129;)
Haere atu ki korā tākaro ai! / Go over there to play!
Ki whea tātou tūtaki ai ā mua o te konohete? / Where will we meet before the concert?
8. (particle) so that, in order that - after kia.
(Te Kākano Textbook (Ed. 2): 99; Te Māhuri Textbook (Ed. 2): 31-32;)
E tuhia ana ēnei kupu kia ako ai koe i te reo Māori. / These words are being written so that you can learn Māori.
See also kia kore ai ... e ..., kia ... ai
9. (particle) why?, that - the negative tē also combines with ai, often to follow he aha to ask 'why', or following a reason that something didn't happen. A verb will be placed between tē and ai.
He aha kōrua tē haere tahi mai ai? / Why didn't you two come together?
Nā te pāngia o Hare e te mate tē tae mai ai ia ki te hui (HJ 2012:192). / Because Harry went down sick, he didn't make the meeting.
See also tē ai he ...
10. (particle) mainly because.
I wera katoa i te ahi, i te maroke ai hoki o aua rākau. / It was burnt completely by the fire, mainly because the timber was so dry.
kia ahatia ai [koe]
1. what business is it of yours, what's it got to do with you, why should it be my concern, so what, what do you want me to do about it - an idiom to indicate that the speaker has no interest in the matter being raised.
Rangi: Kei te mōhio au ki ngā whakautu tika ki te rārangi pātai nei. Pare: Kia ahatia ai koe? (HKK 1999:90). / Rangi: I know the right answers to this list of questions. Pare: So what do you want me to do about it?
